Get the Scoop on Litter Box Solutions

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Whether you're a new cat owner or a seasoned cat owner in need of a new litter box, choosing the right litter box for your cat can be confusing. How big should it be? Should I buy one with a cover or not?

Here are some tips to help you think inside the litter box:

The basics
Ensure you have the appropriate number of litter boxes available to your cat. As well as place each litter box in a place where it's easily accessible and easy to regularly clean.

Number of litter boxes
 

Whether you're a new cat owner or a seasoned cat owner in need of a new litter box, choosing the right litter box for your cat can be confusing. How big should it be? Should I buy one with a cover or not?

Here are some tips to help you think inside the litter box:

The basics
Ensure you have the appropriate number of litter boxes available to your cat. As well as place each litter box in a place where it's easily accessible and easy to regularly clean.

Number of litter boxes
As a general rule, use one litter box per cat. A better practice is to consider two litter boxes per cat. Often cats like to use one box for their feces, the other for urine. If living in a multi-story house, you should place a litter box on every floor your cat can access.

Litter box size
Get as big of a litter box as possible and, if hooded, ensure it has a wide opening for easy access and exit. Cats will use their litter box several times within a day; providing enough clean surface area to eliminate and ample room to move around and scratch is desired by your cats. Studies have shown that cats with larger litter boxes are less likely to eliminate elsewhere in the house.

Litter choices
Keep enough litter in the litter box to absorb waste and allow your cats to cover their waste. Consider two inches deep as a good rule of how much litter to keep in a litter box.

Choosing the right litter is also important. There are many types of litter materials available today: clumping, recycled paper, corn-based, wheat-based and many more. Some litter materials are better at absorbing odors than others and some cats will actually have a preference for a specific litter. This may require some experimentation on your part with litter materials until you find the right one that controls odors and that your cat will be comfortable using.

Whichever litter material is finally chosen, keeping the litter clean and free of waste is crucial in encouraging your cats to want to use their litter boxes. A daily cleaning of feces and urine is recommended.

Locating the litter box
A quiet corner, out of the way of household traffic, but with easy access is the best location for a litter box. Noise, light and vibrations can be disturbing and may scare your cats from going to their litter boxes, subsequently leading to eliminating in other, inappropriate, locations.

Some other things to consider when situating a litter box: 

• Don't place the litter box near your cat's food. Cats do not like to eat where they eliminate.
• Avoid putting the litter box on carpet. Often the feel of the carpet is more attractive to your cats than litter and may promote eliminating on carpets.
• Put the litter box in an area that is convenient for you to check on and keep clean.
• If there are dogs in the home, locate the litter box where the cat can eliminate without being bothered by them.

To cover or not to cover
Cats tend to like their privacy when they use their litter box and a hooded litter box is a great solution. Further, a hood is great for keeping litter in the box. But keep in mind that a hooded litter box also holds in odor and your cats may reject their litter box because of the odor retained in the box.

A covered litter box may encourage an "out of sight, out of mind" stance on your part, leaving litter boxes to accumulate waste and making your cats less likely to use their litter box.

Whether hooded or not, regular cleaning is key to a healthier litter box and happier cat.

Keep litter boxes clean
A dirty litter box is the number one reason a cat will stop using it. Use of a litter box will be encouraged if it's kept clean and free from waste. If it's not, cats will look to other places to eliminate.

You should remove feces and urine from your cats' litter boxes on a daily basis and thoroughly refresh and wash out litter boxes with warm, soapy water or a mild commercial cleaner once a month.

Self-cleaning litter boxes are a great way to take the chore out of everyday litter box cleaning. These fully automated litter boxes rake away waste and lock in odor by depositing the waste into disposable containers. Your cat will have a continuously clean litter box (even when you're away).

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